Heat-insulating structural element



Jan. 1, 1929. 1,697,189

7 s. w. KIRK mm INSULATING STRUCTURAL ELEMENT Filed June 13, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 v I i 4 Jan. 1, 1929. 1,697,189

S. W. KIRK HEAT INSULATING STRUCTURAL ELEMENT Filed June 13, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 3 l5 l7 1,? I6 15 17 U I i Z gwvenkoz 5 /1 12 s/r' 11 m? Jan. 1, 1929. I 1,697,189

7 s. w. KIRK HEAT INSULATING STRUCTURAL ELEMENT Filed June 13, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 50 3 l7 4 I V1 1 77% Q%m v 1 am,

Patent ed Jan. 1-, 1929.

UNITED STATES v.ra'rr-zlv'r OFFICE.

SYLVESTEB W. KIRK, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE KIRK & BLUM MANU- IAOT'UBING COMPANY, OI CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

HEAT-INSULATING sTiwcTURAL ELEMENT.

Application filed June 13, 1927. Serial No. 198,372.

This invention relates to heat insulating structural panels for use in building com,- mercial ovens as well as for constructing refrigerating or cooling chambers.

An object of this invention 1s to provide panels of the class referred to which permit of the use of sheet metal for the side walls and at the same time avoid completely the possibility of the passage of heat between said side walls.

Another object is to provide. a simple and strong edge structure for said panels so as to completely inclose a mass of suitable heat insulating material within the panel and at the same time provide a simple and strong joint member whereby similar panels may be connected at their edges.

Another object is to provide panels which may be utilized to provide a complete oven.

or refrigerating chamber if desired, the same type of panel being usable for wall and roof structure.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings in wh1ch Fig. 1 is a fragmental perspectlve view of the panel of the lnvention.

Flgs. 2, 3 and 4 represent cross sectional views taken on any one of the edges of a panel such as shown in Fig. 1, as for enample on line AA, the several views indicating modifications of structure for the edges of the anels. Fig. 5 is a fragmental cross sect1onal view of the type indicated in Fig. 2, show1ng a pair of panels joined togetheras 1n a typical wall structure. 7

Fig. 6 is a fragmental cross sectional view of a preferred form of panel structure and the preferred form of joint such as may be had with this as well as the other panels herein shown.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view showing a corner structure which maybe made with the anels of the invention.

1g. 8 is across sectional view indicating a possible floor and side wall corner construction. Y

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view showing a modified form of edge and joint structure for panels of the invention. Fig. 10 is a fragmental perspective view showing a complete structure built of the panels of the invention.

In providing material whereby commercial ovens and refrigerating chambers may be conveniently and rapidly built it is essential that in order to avoid extended and expensive work on the job, such materials should be arranged and prepared in the form of panels. In the present invention the panel 12 is conveniently formed with sheet metal sides 13 and 14 and reinforced corners comprising steel angle strips such* as 15 (see Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 9) about which the edges of the sides 13 and 14 are turned and clamped to provide tongues 17. The side walls are secured in spaced relation so as to form a hollow inclosing structure by means of strips 18' of hard heat insulating material which may tos fiber or any other suitable composition or material. The angle strips 15 along a given side of the panel have the flanges 150 aligned so that the strip of hard insulation 18 may be secured to the flanges 150 by any suitable means such as rivets 19 or screws or bolts or any other convenient fastening means maybe used. The strip 18 of hard insulation is of a thickness such as to provide a strength substantially equal to that of the steel angle pieces 15 to which it is secured. The panels may readily be manufactured in shapes of angular, U-shaped or curved cross section,

I such modifications being readily provided by using different forms .of insulating frames about which the metallic wall members may be attached.

The edge structure of the panel bei uniformalong the four sides, it will be notla d that a closed chamber 20 is had within the panel. This chamber 20 is adapted to be filled with insulation material such as asbestos fiber or any other suitable material, the choice of which will begoverned largely by the purpose for which the panels are to be used. This construction is efficient for high temperature ovens.

From the foregoing it will be noted that there is no metallic or heat conducting structure connecting the opposite sides 13 and 14 of the panels. At the same time the panel structure is made strong and is arran ed to provide for the interlocking ofad acent panels to form a substantially continuous wall without the aid of additional connection means. This arrangement eliminates the disadvantages attending the structures wherein soft sheet insulation is disposed between abutting or slidable joint members and 70. be prepared of cement and asbesinstead provides a strong and positive metal to metal bearing between connected panels.

As shown in Fig. 2 the'insulating strip 18 terminates at a distance from the angles 15 providin a groove 21 in which the tongue 17 of an ad acent panel may seat. In Fig. 5 is shown a pair of panels such as shown in Fig. 2 united in one form of typical wall structure. In connecting the panels it will be noted that the tongue 17 of one side of a given panel enters the groove 21 on the same side of the next panel. On the opposite side of said panels the relative positions of the tongue and groove are reversed so that adjoining panels are staggered by the thickness of tongue 17. The tongues 17 project for such length as to preclude abutment of the opposed faces of strips 18 when a pair of panels are joined. The space between the strips 18 may be filled with suitable soft packing 16 in order to provide a more nearly perfect insulation between the sides 13 and 14 of the joined panels.

Fig. 6 shows a preferred form of edge structure for panels of the invention. In Fig. 6 is shown a preferred form of lateral connection between panels. The edge structure of the panel includes a specially formed strip having the flange portions 15 and 150 and an intermediate channel portion 1500 which in this embodiment provides the groove 21. The joint as shown in this view has bothstongues 17 of a given panel inserted in the grooves 21 of an adjoining panel thereby producing a wedged joint. It will be readily understood that the other forms of panel may be likewise joined.

The modified form as shown in Fig. 3 differs from the structure shown in Fig. 2 in that the hard insulation side strip 18 abuts the angle strip 15 on one side so that there is provided but a single groove 21. In each of these forms as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the strips 18 are secured exteriorly of the angle flanges 150. In Figs. 4 and 6 are disclosed modifications wherein the insulating strip 18 is secured to the innermost faces of the flanges 150, the modification as shown in Fig. 4 having no recess for receiving the tongue 17 while the form shown in Fig. 6 uses a special flanged channel strip in lieu of the simple angle strip 15.

The manner of joining panels of the several modified forms will be readily evident in view of the detailed explanation of Figs. 5 and 6.

In Figs. 7 and 8 respectively are shown a simple and strong means for securing panels in the horizontal as for floor and ceiling, with side wall panels. This corner section as shown in Fig. 7 comprises an angle iron 26 connecting adjacent tongues 17 of the panels. to be joined. Suitable bolts 28 as shown may be used for this purpose or rivets or screws may be used if desired. In order to effect a tighter corner joint, a. sheet iron angle 29 may be included. A sheet metal cornice strip 30 is used to bridge over the open ends of the panels so as to provide a hollow chamber 31 which may be filled with loose insulation. The cornice may be of relatively thin metal, turned upon itself as at 32 and having an end portion 33 which will conveniently hook on to the tongues 17 Suitable screws 34 may be passed through the cornice into tongues 17 to preclude displacement thereof.

As shown in Fig. 8 the panels 12 may in some cases be used as a base or floor wall of a chamber, in which case they would be attached to the said walls in substantially the manner just described, suitable angle irons 35 being disposed exteriorly of the vertical walls in order to strengthen and to avoid displacement thereof. If desired, the bottom edges of the panels 12, arranged in a side wall as shown in Fig. 10, may be inserted between a pair of angle irons secured to a floor. In such installation any suitable insulation may be used to fill the space between tongues 17 and if desired, relatively thin strips of the hard insulation may be used to insulate the sheets 13 and 14 from the angle irons. It will be understood that in some cases a heavy duty floor may be re quired for the chamber and that in such cases the floor may be suitably insulated from the outer wall portions of the chamber. In Fig. 10 there is indicated a possible chamber or oven construction wherein the .side walls and roof are joined by means of the typical corner structure shown in Fig. 7, the completed structure being finished exteriorly with plaster in the manner shown in Fig. 5.

The side of the anel which is to be disposed on the outsi e of a structure may be desired to be plastered or otherwise finished. It will be understood that one of the sides for example 14 of the panels may be made of ribbed or expanded metal as indicated in Fig. 5 or it may be of any other suitably prepared sheet metal in order to form a suitable base upon whichplaster 22 may be bonded.

In those panels having an exterior plaster finish, it is found desirable to rovide a longitudinal division as at 23 in t e plaster 22 so as to permit separation of the panels without breakage of the exterior finish. This is found to be highly desirable in the event of alterations or moving-of an oven or another chamber formed of the panels. In a joint of this kind a pair of canvas or other suitable flexible flaps 24 and 25 may be embedded one in each of adjacent panels so as to be overlapped to provide a neat flat joint.

Inasmuch as the panels are adaptable for all types of fixed and movable structures the tained without the sacrificing strength and v various installations which are possible are not/shown. The simple structure indicated in Fig. 10 will be suificient for the purpose of illustrating one of the numerous possible installations.

In the manufacture of panels of the invention four strips of the hard insulation material 18 would, be placed at right angles to one another with the angle members 15 of the material being determined to some' extent by the use to which the panels'are to be put. Theside 14, which maybe plain sheet metal or ribbed metal or metal lath is then secured over the remaining side of 'the frame, thereby completely inclosing the insulating material; 'If desired the turned over edges of the sides 13 and 14 may be additionally secured to the angle members by spot welding or any other suitable means.

The tongue and groove interlocking feature' of the panels greatly facilitates the erection of a wall, said panels being adapted for interlocking engagement with other panels on any of the '-four edges. The absence {of metal connecting, the inner and outer 'sheetjfimetal'fls'ides provides a very efiicient resistance to the passage of heat through the panels and this efiiciency is atwithout requiring unsightly or expensive auxiliary securing means.

The interlocking joint between adjacent panels illustrated typically in Figs. 5 and 6, is strong and substantial, and yet renders dismantling of a wall and removal of the panels very rapid and easy.

What is claimed is:

1. In a heat insulated chamber structure the combination of panels comprising hollow frames of heat insulating material, metallic side-walls secured on opposite edges of the frames and heat insulated from one another thereby, overhanging "edges on said side walls providing spaced tongues on the panels, an angle member secured to one pair of tongues on angularly disposed panels for providing an interior corner connection, va cornice member connecting the remaining tongues on said panels for providing an exterior corner connection in heat insulated relation to the first mentioned corner connection,,. suitable insulating material contained between the corner connections and disposed interiorly of the panels, the interior wall of the completed chamber structure being entirely free of metallic connection with the exterior wall of said structure.

2. A heat insulating structural panel of the class described comprising a substantially rectangular frame formed of transversely disposed strips of hard heat insulating material, metallic angle members secured adjacent the edges of said strips, sheet metal side walls secured tothe angle strips and heat insulating material contained in and filling the space between the sheet metal, the opposed sheet metal side walls and their respective securing means bein secured in spaced apart relation entire y by nonmetallic material. 7

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subgcribed my name this 8th day of June, 192 W SYLVESTER W. KIRK. 

